Road Trip Loop: The Best 5-Day Outback Circuits from Major Cities

You don’t need to disappear for a month to feel the shift. These 5-day circuits give you a powerful hit of open sky, red dirt, and campfire bliss—all from city bases. Here are our favourite Unearth-approved loops.

1. Adelaide ➝ Flinders Ranges ➝ Arkaroola ➝ Return

Rocky gorges, wild emus, sacred ranges. Stay at Wilpena Pound, hike Brachina Gorge, and sleep under ancient stars.

2. Perth ➝ Wave Rock ➝ Hyden ➝ Dryandra Woodland ➝ Return

Explore WA’s lesser-known bushland. See Wave Rock, visit a tiny town or two, and spot numbats in the wild.

3. Darwin ➝ Litchfield ➝ Daly River ➝ Douglas Hot Springs ➝ Return

Waterfalls, thermal pools, and Top End sunsets. Perfect for a warm-weather escape.

4. Alice Springs ➝ West MacDonnell Ranges ➝ Glen Helen ➝ Return

Sacred country, ochre cliffs, and waterholes like Ellery Creek. Stay flexible and slow.

You don’t need a huge plan. Just a good map, the right gear, and an open heart. These loops are a reminder: the outback is closer than you think. Subscribe to Unearth Style Co. for full route guides and slow travel inspo.